Thursday, 29 September 2011

As an Engineer/Manager who turned 50 this year, I greatly welcome the news that the Gomen is extending the private sector retirement age to 60. I have always believed that 55 is a bad retirement age, at that age a professional is at the prime of his chosen career and would have given much more value for money for the company he chose to serve.

Efforts to stop the Palestinians from winning statehood at the UN are misguided and self-defeating

Sep 24th 2011 | from the print edition

THE Palestinians are edging closer to getting a recognised state, at least on paper. Their application to the UN’s Security Council, pencilled in for September 23rd, will be rebuffed by an American veto. But if they then go to the UN General Assembly, which seems likely sooner or later, the Palestinians will win an overwhelming majority. The “observer” status that would be given to them would be similar to that of the Vatican—a position short of full membership, which can be conferred only by the Security Council. It would not make an immediate difference on the ground but would help the Palestinians on their way to the real thing by giving them a diplomatic fillip. It should be encouraged, for reasons of both principle and practice.

The principle is simple: the Palestinians deserve a state, just as the Israelis do. The United States, the European Union and the Israeli government have all endorsed a two-state solution. There is broad agreement that the boundary should be based on the pre-1967 one, with land swaps allowing Israel to keep its biggest settlements close to the line, in return for the Palestinians gaining land elsewhere; Jerusalem should be shared; and the Palestinians should give up their claimed right of return to Israel proper. That still leaves much room for negotiation. But provided that the Palestinian request at the UN, still unfiled as The Economist went to press, does not undermine the basic terms of this deal, it is hard to see why any peacemaker, including America’s Barack Obama, should oppose a proposal that nudges Palestine closer to real statehood (see article).

This is barmy. The argument that the Palestinians must resume negotiations before getting statehood is specious. Why on earth should a change in status at the UN stop people talking? Besides, the negotiations have been going nowhere—and Mr Netanyahu has been the biggest stumbling-block. Since his grudging acceptance two years ago of the two-state principle, Israel’s prime minister has shown no eagerness or flexibility in his purported pursuit of a deal. Settlement-building on the West Bank, which he has refused to stop (barring a partial nine-month freeze), is no mere side issue; the Palestinians accurately liken it to the spectacle of two people negotiating over how to share a pizza while one of them continues to eat it. (Unlike the UN status, this does change things on the ground.)In his speech to Congress in May Mr Netanyahu refused to accept that Jerusalem, whose eastern Arab-populated part the Palestinians see as their capital, should be shared. He even inveighed against the notion that negotiations over the boundary should be on the basis of the pre-1967 line with swaps.

The practical and procedural politics of the UN is trickier, but unless the last-minute negotiations deliver something dramatic, the arguments in favour of at least securing the Vatican option surely outweigh stasis. Israel’s government, led by Binyamin Netanyahu, and his backers abroad, especially in the United States Congress, insist that Palestinian statehood is premature: instead of going to the UN, the Palestinians should return to the negotiating table without tiresome preconditions, such as demanding a freeze on the building of Jewish settlements. Mr Obama, keen to reassert his pro-Israel credentials before next year’s election, seems likely to oppose even the Vatican option. Some congressmen are now preparing bills that would punish the Palestinians for their temerity.

The Palestinians have hardly been faultless. Mahmoud Abbas, their leader, has often dithered. He muffed a half-chance for a deal with Mr Netanyahu’s predecessor, Ehud Olmert, three years ago. But he is the most peace-minded Palestinian leader the Israelis are likely to get. Were he now to back away from his UN bid, his clout among his own people would shrivel. The more extreme Palestinians, in particular the Islamists of Hamas, oppose the UN bid precisely because it would, if successful, strengthen the hand of their more flexible compatriots. If a UN resolution reaffirmed support for two states broadly along the 1967 border, those who reject Israel’s existence, calling for a single state on all the land encompassing Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, would be wrong-footed.

This is not to give Mr Abbas carte blanche. He should see whether the Europeans can produce anything (see Charlemagne). Assuming that his bid for full UN membership is blocked, he should rapidly revert to the Vatican option, along with a bevy of provisos to reassure the Israelis. He should agree to refrain from trying to arraign Israel in the International Criminal Court for its past actions. And at some point, Mr Abbas must admit to his people that most of the refugees will never return to Israel proper: that is the price of partition.

A more secure Israel amid the Arab spring

In truth, Israel will be safer when a proper Palestinian state has been consolidated. That is a point that too few Israelis and their American supporters appreciate. This newspaper has argued steadfastly for the right of Israel to exist. We abhor the creeping delegitimisation and demonisation of Israel. But we also believe that the Palestinians deserve a state of their own. These two beliefs are entirely compatible. By his intransigence Mr Netanyahu has played into the hands of those who would destroy Israel. In blocking any Palestinian aspirations at the UN, America is helping extremists on both sides.

With many more such significant Scientific discoveries everyday, would it not be difficult for our children not being fluent in English for Maths and Science appreciate the significance of such momentous discovery that there are particles which can travel faster than the speed of light AS EVENTS UNFOLD FOR THE WHOLE WORLD TO SEE.

The Government really need to reinstate the PPSMI, the teaching and learning of Maths and Science in English as soon as practicable. We are losing time and the world does not wait for us to catch up as the Gomen dither between making a right decision or a politically popular decision, there is no affirmative action in the pursuit of knowledge.

Our children needs the right tool to face the constantly changing world of Science, PPSMI is the right tool.

Tuesday, 27 September 2011

Latest, uploaded on the internet..a voice recording allegedly to be of DAP Secretary General and Pulau Pinang CM defaming the State of Johor overseas.

1. If proven true, then the Johor State Government should sue the DAP Secretary General for defamation and loss of FDI, asking for apologies will not do, he has damaged Johor's good name in particular and Malaysia in General.

2. If proven authentic, the DAP should also suspend its Secretary General for conduct unbecoming just as they had suspended Manoharan for six months for dishonouring the Jalur Gemilang. That would be fair otherwise DAP is a BS democratic party where some members are more equal than others.

Mark this date: 23 September 2011 where President Mahmoud Abbas gave a rousing speech in the UN 66th General Assembly to support Palestine application to become a full member state. The speech will be hailed as one of the top 100 speeches made in this century, it is a game changer, the Palestinian says to Israel and their supporters enough, enough, enough to intransigence and deceit.

Netanyahu shows to the world that Israel wants neither an agreement nor a Palestinian state, and for that matter not peace, either.

It will be a long road to formal statehood for the Palestinian though, as how successful President Abbas and the Palestinian people will be, will depend on how long the US, UK, France and Germany allow and support the Israel Regime to behave above International Law.

The publicity surrounding the "Undilah" vid by Pete Teo featuring politicians and actors/actresses wannabee rap artist etc. is hillarious to me, it created a controversy when it was alleged that the MCMC had banned the vid, blogger Tony Yew's has the story here. I have seen the video, I think it is politically loaded, what's more I think it is pro Opposition, any video which started with the words "negara bermasaalah" is anything but political and has anti-BN agenda written all over it, Tung Shin Hospital shot, yes, lets not kid ourselves about it being apolitical.

I have seen the video, I did not think it impressive despite some famous local names in it, the production was sleek though, have a look see:

Anyway, BN folks should not be complaining about the video too much, it is after all an independent production not funded by the Government. Why not BN produce a more interesting video in response to Pete Teo's Undilah? I suggested in my tweets to get KRU to produce a video, friends in twitter say Mamat Khalid is better and then I thought of the movie Man Laksa and M.Daud Kilau came into mind with his song Cik Mek Molek..so i thought a good lyric for a video response should have M.Daud Kilau singing "Undilah, Undilah Cek Mek Molek"......

I don't know about you but I am tired of vids done by namewee, BN should really consider Mamat Khalid to do a response vid with the opening done by the Prime Minister or SPR Chairman as suggested by a tweeter friend. Start with Malaysia Negara Kita , Malaysia Negara Bertuah.

Sunday, 25 September 2011

A Menteri Besar or Ketua Menteri of a state within the Federation of Malaysia should be a responsible person who does not talk bad about other brother States in order to gain advantage for his home state.

Unfortunately in Malaysia we have the un-pleasure of having an ex-convict chosen to become a Chief Minister of Pulau Pinang.

This politician from Melaka who by the way is the son of DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang, loves to crow to uninformed audience about his so called success in administering Pulau Pinang in the last three years, hardly ever thanking nor mentioning that the industrious and entrepreneurial Pulau Pinang folks who voted for the DAP,PKR and PAS and those diligent workers from other states in Malaysia that had made Pulau Pinang a economic success.

AS THE global financial crisis looks set to roil markets for yet another year, the competition for foreign direct investment (FDI) is only going to heat up further. Governments at all levels fight long and hard to attract this all-important source of economic growth. Indeed, some of the toughest competition for FDI takes place within countries between regional authorities which vie for the same funds.

This in itself is not unusual. In the United States of America, states such as Ohio, Missouri and Georgia often compete with one another to secure investment. Similarly, China's many provincial and city governments have also sought to differentiate themselves in this increasingly tough terrain.

Malaysia is no exception and competition is good both for investors and the country generally. It forces state governments to work hard on their investment promotion strategies and the eventual execution. In short, we all benefit when bureaucrats and politicians are forced to compete with one another.

Nonetheless, there's always a risk that the civility which is the hallmark of our culture may break down in our quest for more FDI. As Malaysia's Minister for International Trade and Industry with responsibility for the entire nation's FDI figures as a whole, this is an extremely worrisome development.

The overall investment climate can be negatively impacted if state leaders feel so pressured to produce results that they find it necessary to undermine the larger nation's interest.

I'm not saying competition is a bad thing. It promotes efficiency and widens choice. However, it can also turn unhealthy and destructive if good sense doesn't prevail. Indeed, there is a need for a greater degree of gentlemanliness in how we proceed in this area: Malaysia's states (to appropriate a sporting metaphor) should always play fairly and be gracious both in victory and defeat.

So there's nothing wrong with inter-state FDI competition as long as we can keep things friendly and ensure that it brings positive results for the nation.

Further, in meetings with foreign investors, state leaders regardless of their party need to realise that they are first and foremost Malaysians. It serves no purpose to run down or denigrate other states abroad just for the sake of winning over foreign investments. For that matter it is most unbecoming for political leaders to run down Malaysia overseas.

At the end of the day, foreigners don't see us as Penangites, Selangoreans or Johoreans, but collectively as Malaysians. When we go abroad, we represent the entire country, not just our respective states. What hurts one place hurts the country as a whole. It's unfortunate that leaders sometimes forget this.

Recently, for instance, I have been made to understand that chief minister of Penang Lim Guan Eng while speaking at a function outside the country criticised Johor. He claimed that people going there were likely to be "kidnapped", in contrast to Penang - which he declared to be the safest state in Malaysia.

This is rather inaccurate as it doesn't rightly reflect the realities on the ground. The truth is that both states have recorded declining crime trends over the past year, as borne out by the Royal Malaysian Police Force's latest crime index by states. Lim's criticisms of Johor are hence harsh and unwarranted.

Lim also used his speech to boast of Penang's success as a world-class electrical and electronics (E&E) hub - which he credited to little over three years of rule by his Pakatan Rakyat administration. He also pointed out that Penang attracted the highest amount of investments in 2010 compared to other states: as if this achievement was due to his efforts alone. Not a word was mentioned about the entrepreneurial and resilient spirit of Penangites.

The fact is that Penang's success did not come overnight. It has become the industrial hub it is today largely because of the work that began in the early seventies under former state leaders like the late Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu and later continued by Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon, who were from the Barisan Nasional. Lim must surely acknowledge that he is building on the foundations that these leaders laid.Lim also seems to imply in his other statements that the federal government has neglected Penang. Nothing could be further than the truth. The federal government, through Mida and other agencies, have worked along with the state government to build a strong E&E ecosystem in Penang and will continue such cooperation as it always has over the past four decades.

Lim is correct when he noted that Penang topped the approved investment list in 2010. Penang was No. 1 with RM12,237 million, followed by Selangor (RM10,641 million), Johor (RM7,464 million) and Sarawak (RM3,945 million).

But the approved investment totals for the first seven months of 2011 paints a different picture: Penang has dropped to No. 4 (RM4,624 million) while Johor is now No. 1 (RM5,950 million).

To make out that Penang is Malaysia's only star performer in Malaysia and discrediting other states - is disingenuous and goes against the spirit of federalism.

Moreover, there is a mix of factors in attracting FDI. Investors decide where to put their money based on many considerations, such as infrastructure, the availability and cost of land, availability of human capital as well as the extent of support for their operations.

All of these things take time and effort on all sides to create. Therefore, no one person or party can realistically claim credit for pulling in FDI. It is a collective effort by all Malaysians led by the federal government.

I must stress it is not my intention to criticise any state government or the work of its chief minister/menteri besar - but political pettiness will hurt Malaysia in the long run. We ought not to be running down each other, but rather work together in the spirit of 1Malaysia to prepare for the global economic uncertainties.

Competition is good, but cooperation can benefit all. As people say - you are only as strong as your weakest link, hence let's keep things civil and stick to the ground rules next time, shall we?

As a Malaysian and a Johorean myself I personally think that Guan Eng should grow up and be a matured Leader but maybe I am asking too much of he who climb up the ladder on the back of his father Kit Siang.

Guan Eng should at least apologise to the DYMM Sultan and the rakyat of Johor for his insult of the State. If he fails to do so maybe, the Government of Johor should sue him in his personal capacity, that will teach the fella to watch what he says. I think Guan Eng's big mouth will one day be his fall. Amen.

Saturday, 24 September 2011

I find the following speech by the PM reported by the MI, while being good intention-ed strikes me as being rhetorical and a wee bit hollow, while the message is clear and that National Unity which I take it as unity among the races is important for our country to become a developed nation, the PM did not clearly state how he plans to achieve unity.

Unity a pre-requisite for developed nation, says Najib

PETALING JAYA, Sept 23 — Datuk Seri Najib Razak said today that national unity was critical for the country to achieve its goal to be a developed country by 2020.

This comes as the country’s national discourse continues to be marred by racial and religious debates.

Najib (picture) said that maintaining acceptance, moderation and harmony was “possibly the most crucial” factor for Malaysia to be a high income nation by 2020.

“For that (economic) progress to continue we must ensure that moderation, tolerance and respect for others forms the basis of our national creed,” said Najib at the National Conference on Making A High Income Nation A Reality here.

He added that the “Malaysian spirit” has been “invigorated” by his recent moves to enhance the country’s democratic environment by repealing oppressive laws such as the ISA.

The prime minister also said that while Malaysia had weathered the global economic crisis relatively well, he noted that there were persistant fiscal and economic problems in the US and EU and the country’s ability to thrive would depend on a “benign external environment.”

The Najib administration has set a goal of making Malaysia a high-income nation with a per capita GNI of US$15,000 (RM47,250) by growing at a rate of 6 per cent per annum. Read in full here.

I wonder whether PM Najib thinks that his 1Malaysia idea which to many of my generation is just mere sloganeering without having any specific objective, is enough to drive the many races in Malaysia towards being a united people. This is what Dr Mahathir thinks of PM Najib's 1Malaysia:

So why do we have these lingering problems in the first place? My main suspect is Language, we as a nation are not speaking the same National Language unlike the Indonesian, the Thais, the Filipinos etc. While we are the only country in the world which allows vernacular schools existing side by side with national schools which for all means and purposes will ultimately lead to segregation of the the races as lets face it people who does not study and play together and speaks different language will never get to know one another, will be distrusting of each other and will always be defensive against each other, can there ever be UNITY in such a situation.

Could catchy slogans like 1Malaysia be a magic pill for Unity after we have had more than 50 years of, and are still having the parallel school system where the Sekolah Kebangsaan co exist with the Vernacular schools. I don't think so.

Other countries like Indonesia, Thailand even Singapore etc. allow for ONLY one National School System and as a result the children of these countries of all races from the majority to the minority race were able to mix with each other and speak and learn in the same Language. Undeniably when we know each other, speak the same common language, there will be less distrust there will be more mixing and UNITY among races would be much easier to achieve. Let me share the following thought provoking post with readers:

Can National Schools Be The Choice of All Malaysians?

I have always been concerned about the parallel lives that some Malaysians lead. By definition, lines that are parallel never meet. And that is more or less what is happening to some of our youth, living trajectories that do not allow them opportunities to have meaningful interaction with Malaysians from other ethnic communities. Read More here.

1 Sekolah Untuk SemuaI'm the product of a 1 Sekolah system. I started schooling in Singapore in 1968, a year before the May 13 racial clashes and three years after the island achieved its Independence. The government of Lee Kuan Yew went about to "integrate' all primary schools. My school on West Coast Road had a flag of blue and yellow, and for many years it was known as Jubilee Malay Primary School. By the time I went to Primary 1B, it was called Jubilee Primary (Integrated) School. They abolished the Sekolah Melayu Jubilee. Other vernacular schools around the island were systematically replaced by "integrated" schools. Singapore went for its 1 School for All and I thought that they were doing quite alright. Read more here.

Tony Tompel Lu sudah lupa apa lu bilang pasai itu Kambing?

So let me ask you this now.....which one is more?

How many more kids in their early years are segregated in an Alien Language which is only spoken on a daily basis by less than 20% of the population.... Racial Disunity of course is a co-mingling of many factors, one key component is how well we understand one another…..and of which language plays a very important role..

Satu Sekolah Untuk Semua

This key problem in language brings us back to vernacular schooling ….lets assume a kid from 7 to 12 years old goes to to a vernacular school..how many hours a day does he goes around thinking, learning, communicating in Mandarin/Tamil…goes home after school probably into an environment that continues to speak Non-national Languages..or even other foreign language dialects……how much interaction in BM or English will this group children have as a % of their life minus the early years say up till 5/6 years old….ask yourself would these group of children be racially united with other kids of different race who do not speak the language that they speak fluently….. as with any problem..there are root causes…..and if language is one of the possible root cause of disunity then we must face the issue on vernacular schooling head on..without fear and without politics clouding our judgment..........Read more here.

Satu Sekolah Untuk Semua

The segregation of our citizens from a very young and impressionable age (via vernacular schools) has become the single biggest impediment to the creation of a true Bangsa Malaysia unified by a common identity, mindset and language. After almost 52 years of Merdeka, a large proportion of MyCard-carrying Warganegara Malaysia are functional-illiterates in the language of their country of citizenship, and are incapable of partaking in the process of nation-building and social integrationexpected of citizens of any nation in this world. Read More here.

I think we seriously need a road map to UNITY; slogans, one liners, the Hari Raya, Lunar New year, Deepavali and Christmas National Open Houses is good work but is not enough as it is too much form without the substance, the road map to UNITY can start with the establishment of the Satu Sekolah untuk Semua(SSS) System OR we can start softly with the National Schools being given options to Teach and Study Maths and Science in English i.e reinstate the PPSMI and parents will more likely choose the Sekolah Kebangsaan over the vernacular schools which rigidly teaches everything in their mother tongue.

So if PM Najib have PEMANDU to drive the Economic Transformation Plan and he already has his agenda for a political Transformation plan, I think what's missing is a UNITY plan for a multiracial and multireligious Malaysia to carry us thru to 2020 and beyond.

I agree they have nothing to lose really, they have been trying to have a Palestinian State way back from 1967, the current Israeli coalition Government of settlers and extremists led by Benjamin Netanhayu has proven to be more belligerent than previous Israeli Prime Ministers. Netanyahu speaks of negotiation one one hand but gives conditions to the Palestinians which makes it impossible for the Palestinians to negotiate with Israel who has the undivided support of the US Government.

Israel needs to change its belligerent stand, it is slowly being isolated, its chief Arab ally Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has been overthrown and the Israeli embassy ransacked in Cairo recently and its long time ally,Turkey has by all sense and purposes cut off ties with Israel with only the Royal House of Jordan having direct ties with Tel Aviv. The Arab spring brings political change to the Middle East, it will soon bring change to how Israel has to position itself in the volatile region, as the USA cannot forever defend the Israel state domestic policy against the Palestinians from international pressure brought to bear by the international community.

The Palestinian authority non violent opposition to Israel occupation and its desire for a state of its own will bear fruits soon enough.

Dr Mahathir, who instituted the teaching of science and mathematics in English (PPSMI), pointed out that most papers on new discoveries made in the two fields were in English and warned Malaysians they risked becoming a backward people if they did not know “the world’s lingua franca”.

“It’s not a question of lacking nationalism,” he said of PPSMI supporters after his executive talk at Sultan Idris Education University here today.

“In fact, it is true nationalists who want their people to possess more knowledge, not just be able to speak in Malay.”

The trained medical doctor said there were new findings in science and mathematics almost every day, unlike other subjects, and stressed that mastery of English would allow Malaysians to catch up on the latest developments without waiting for translations.

Dr Mahathir added that he too loved the Malay language — pointing out that he had written about the importance of Malay in 1948 “before these (anti-PPSMI) people were born” — but stressed that English was a must for Malaysia to reach new heights.

The trained medical doctor said there were advances in science and mathematics almost every day, unlike other subjects, and stressed that mastery of English would allow Malaysians to catch up on the latest developments without waiting for translations.

Dr Mahathir added that he too loved the Malay language — pointing out that he had written about the importance of Malay in 1948 “before these (anti-PPSMI) people were born” — but was adamant that English was a must for Malaysia to reach new heights.

Pro-English lobby group Parent Action Group for Education (Page) has been locked in a two-year battle with the Najib administration to get PPSMI, abolished in 2009, back in schools.

Page has urged that schools be allowed to teach science and mathematics in English, citing widespread support from parents for the option.

PPSMI was first introduced in 2003 but the Education Ministry has decided to put an end to it by 2012 after consulting teachers and parents around the country.

In the uproar that ensued, Putrajaya introduced MBMMBI, which will see the teaching of Mathematics and Science revert to Bahasa Malaysia from 2012 with more contact hours for English in order to improve students’ skills in the language.

In May, The Malaysian Insider reported that the Najib administration had decided not to switch back to PPSMI because several Cabinet ministers felt any change would be seen as another embarrassing flip-flop.

Yes by God, I am a Nationalist, I support the reinstatement of the PPSMI, we live in a globalised world, the PPSMI is a very important key for the future of our children and their children.

Tuesday, 20 September 2011

A couple of days ago DAP lawyer and ADUN for Kota Alam uttered something in his Facebook wall that he will regret for the rest of his political life. By posting that our National flag the Jalur Gemilang should be changed as it resembled a BN flag, he has attracted as much flak and brickbat as PAS's Mat Sabu who said the Communist Mat Indera is a hero. Read here and here.

To be fair he did offer an apology which was rather gentlemanly considering PAS's Mat Sabu remained defiant and refused to apologise for his ill advised statement hailing a communist terrorist who murdered police constables their wives and children at Bukit Kepong in 1950 as a national hero. Too bad for Mano, for BN its like "bulan jatuh atas riba" and poor Mano has been made cannon fodder since the Facebook posting.

The DAP and their Pakatan partners are in sixes and sevens trying to defend their position and has since distanced themselves from Mano's politically suicidal post on the Jalur Gemilang. I am quite sure that many fence sitters, the voters who determines how big a party wins or loses in elections are greatly displeased and not amused with Mano the DAP Adun and by extension the DAP as a whole and the Pakatan component parties PAS and PKR generally.

Its look like Mano's trouble its not over yet, in fact I think his political life with the DAP will soon end:

Sunday, 18 September 2011

On the eve of Hari Malaysia 2011, PM Najib made a couple of shall I say brave announcements on Law reforms that will be talked about, digested, talked about, criticised and praised. PM Najib made the following announcement:

Apparently the ISA will be replaced by two Acts which will be tabled in Parliament not this year but probably next year as I understand the 2 Laws are still being revised. Blogger Jebat Must Die wrote a post on the implication of the abolishment of the ISA what he thought could replace it:

The usage of the ISA has prevented Malaysia from having to face massive upheaval and violence such as bombs exploding in our streets and public buildings, we are an oasis of calm when bombs were exploding in the US, Indonesia, UK, Madrid and many other places globally.

It is not by accident that we have so far been protected from such terrible violence, the ISA gave the Police preventive powers to detain without trial people who they consider a threat to national security. If Ops Lallang had not been initiated by the Police in the 1980's Malaysia as we know it today would have been be ruined by communal and religious violence.

So despite the kudos dan pujian tinggi melangit that PM Najib has been receiving from minority pressure groups normally instigated by the Pakatan politicians who uses any issue to hammer the BN, there are the majority rakyat who are law abiding citizens who don't give two hoots about people who are detained under the ISA as long as our streets are safe, the majority will only be happy if the ISA is abolished and replaced by laws that are better than the ISA.

Our Law makers should keep these wise opinions in mind when formulating any new pre-emptive Laws to replace the ISA:

I would agree, decisions on preventive laws cannot be placed on the hands of Politicians and Judges, it should be on the IGP who has the necessary secret intelligence garnered domestically and internationally. Yes terrorism are not normally home grown, terrorism has become a sophisticated global phenomena and only the Police and Intelligence agencies are equipped to handle them. Judges will want evidence , hard evidence before they can make a decision but can what one thinks is in a terrorist mind, be evidence accepted by the Courts? That is why the USA has Guantanamo Bay for detention of suspected terrorist and it is no accident that the USA has had no terrorist attacks since 11 Sept 2001 ok. The AG and the PDRM will have their work cut out to replace the ISA, I wish them best of luck.

Politicians come and go, but the Laws will be there and the rakyat will bear the burden of any mistake long after the politicians has gone.

Now comes the question whether the abolishment of the ISA and amendments to the various Laws would bring in the votes to BN? Like I said just now, the majority rakyat do not care about who the Police detain under the ISAas long as our streets are safe (note: except for that unfortunate accident when the cute reporter was detained under the ISA for her "protection"). The people who are asking for the ISA to be abolished are mostly aligned to the Opposition, so no I don't think PM Najib's nor BN's popularity rating will be up by much with the slew of BOLD announcements on Law reforms necessary for the safety and security of this blessed nation.

I have this suggestion for PM Najib, want to be known as a Leader one who has balls? a REAL reformer? A REAL transformer? how about this: Announce the reinstatement of the PPSMI as soon as possible and I am sure the votes will come in droves from grateful Parents and Students who cut across parties, race and religion.

Saturday, 17 September 2011

Here is an open letter to YB Fuziah who is spearheading the anti Lynas campaign from Mr. Nick Tsurikov, Director, Calytrix Consulting, Pty. Ltd. an expert in radiation protection.

From the NST and reprinted in full for knowledge sharing:

Open letter to YB Fuziah SallehDear Madam,

This letter relates to your interview with TV PAS, Mr Gilbert Almeida, on 29th of July 2011, and provides a follow up to comments that I posted on YouTube within days of its broadcast.

Firstly, I would like to state upfront that I am not an employee of Lynas Corporation; however I have been independently advising Lynas on the management of radiation protection issues for some time.

I provide this kind of technical advisory service to a large number of mining and mineral processing companies, national and international organisations and government departments around the world.

With all due respect, I find many of your technical comments in the abovementioned interview to be fundamentally flawed and inaccurate.

In addition, I consider several statements made by Mr Almeida, with which you appear to agree, as ill-informed and offensive.

I refer particularly to comments such as Australia exporting ‘radioactive death’ and that some people (presumably associated with Lynas) should be tried for ‘crimes against humanity’.

On radiation protection issues, I believe that as a Member of the Malaysian Parliament, you would not intentionally seek to mislead the people of Kuantan.

I therefore assume that you have been poorly and inadequately advised on the issues of rare earth processing, and I provide the following comments to specifically address the seven issues you highlight in the interview.

ISSUE 1: BEST PRACTICE GUIDELINES

The very first finding of the IAEA mission to review the Lynas Advanced Materials Plant is that “the review team was not able to identify any non-compliance with international radiation safety standards”.

The list of seventeen international (IAEA) documents that are applicable is provided on pages 8-9 of the IAEA Report.

Therefore, your comment that there are no benchmarks or best practice guidelines is incorrect and invalid.

ISSUE 2: ALLEGED USE OF THE STANDARDS OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA BY LYNAS

You state that “I have the evidence that Lynas is going to use China standards”. This allegation is quite extraordinary, as no document from Lynas or the IAEA has ever mentioned the use of standards other than Malaysian, Australian or International standards.

If you do have such evidence, it would be appreciated if you would make it public.

Until then, your statement cannot be taken seriously. It is clearly nothing more than an unproven and unjustified asertion.

The statement that “in Australia even to extract the rare earth elements it is mandatory for the operations to be located 35 km from residential areas” is a fabrication.

There is no law, regulation or even a guideline anywhere in Australia containing this requirement. Even the research nuclear reactor at Lucas Heights on the outskirts of metropolitan Sydney, is located within two to three kilometres of residential areas.

Your have obviously been misled. Your statement is incorrect.

ISSUE 4: DISCUSSION AND EXPLANATION OF RADIOACTIVITY CONCENTRATIONS

It seems to me that your technical advisers are confusing numbers and different methods for calculating specific activity of materials.

There are two ways of calculating this value: the out-dated method of using ‘total’ activity, versus the current standard that uses concentration of a ‘parent’ radio-isotope.

This international standard has been in use since 1997-1998.

On this basis, if a material contains 400 parts per million of thorium – its specific activity is calculated as follows:

The internationally accepted standard for the material to be considered for regulation is 1 Bq/g.

However, if the specific radioactivity of the material reaches or exceeds the value of 1 Bq/g, it does not necessarily mean that material is regulated and/or should be classified as ‘radioactive’.

There is a provision in the IAEA document RS-G-1.7 that the value may be up to 10 Bq/g and material may still be exempted from regulations when certain provisions are met.

Either someone misinformed you, or you have misunderstood the situation.
The Lynas Water Leach Product (WLP) at 6.1 Bq/g is, of course, classified as a ‘radioactive material’.

To the best of my knowledge, there are no documents where it was claimed that the Lynas residue is “under the Chinese standard” and therefore “can be disposed as any other waste”.

Your comment is incorrect. If, as you claim, Lynas is saying that the waste is not radioactive, then why did Lynas develop the radiation impact assessment for approval by AELB in 2007?

ISSUE 5: ABOUT THE DANGERS OF THE LYNAS RAW MATERIAL

It appears that you have again been misinformed - this time with regards to the processing of the Lynas ore. The ore is crushed in Western Australia, prior to being processed at the concentration plant, also located in Western Australia.

The material will then be transported in the form of a wet paste inside double-layered plastic bags, which will be sealed and placed into sea containers.

Therefore, your comment about the danger of dry dust particles is alarmist and misleading.

It also appears you may have misunderstood the danger of different types of radiation.

Contrary to your statement that “alpha is not as dangerous as gamma”, there is only one scientific opinion about ‘radiation weighting factors’ and that is that alpha radiation is actually twenty times more dangerous than gamma radiation.

ISSUE 6: CONCERNING THE POSSIBILITY OF URANIUM ESCAPING INTO WATER AND INTO THE SEA

I feel compelled to point out that your comments on the risk of uranium escaping into water are so outlandish that I would like, once again, to question the competence of your technical advisers.

It is clearly stated in the RIA that any water discharged will not exceed the standard specified by AELB of 1 Bq/L.

The most environmentally mobile, and thus potentially dangerous radioactive element is not uranium but radium, and by a considerable margin. Without detailed quoting:

- The limits set by AELB are within the range of concentrations allowed in the drinking water by both the Australian Government and the World Health Organisation (0.1 – 1.0 Bq/L);

- The limits are significantly below the natural concentration of radionuclides in drinking water in some areas of the world, as reported by United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) in its 2000 Report.

Effectively, you are claiming that if someone brings to Kuantan one tanker per year of the drinking water from certain locations in Finland (up to 150 Bq/L of uranium and 49 Bq/L of radium) or Switzerland (around 1 Bq/L of uranium and up to 1.5 Bq/L of radium) and pours it into the river near Kuantan, the fishing industry of all South-East Asia would be destroyed?

As I presented to the International Symposium on Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material in Spain in 2007, phosphate fertilisers commonly used in agriculture normally contain between 50 and 500 Bq/kg of uranium, with the highest value being over 2000 Bq/kg. So, if we are to follow your logic, then a ship carrying phosphate fertiliser that loses its cargo near Kuantan would completely decimate the fishing industry due to extremely high radiation levels.

Your comment on the possible destruction of the fishing industry in South-East Asia is wide of the mark and I do not believe that you, as a Member of the Malaysian Parliament, would mislead people this way. I therefore suggest that and your technical advisers re-examine data to the utmost detail prior to repeating this kind of extreme and alarmist comment in public.

ISSUE 7 – ON RADIOACTIVE WASTE

I wish to draw to your attention that numerous industries within Malaysia, and around the world, generate radioactive waste. And if your comments are to be taken seriously, by shutting down industries that produce radioactive waste, a vast array of products, goods and services would no longer be available to society.

- products made from or with an addition of iron, copper, tin, aluminium, zinc, lead, tantalum, etc

- Clean drinking water produced from water treatment.

I am confident that you are “not against progress”; however, in following your own logic, the oil and gas industry in Malaysia should be shut down and people should be banned from using phosphate fertilisers, living in houses with ceramic tiles, driving cars, flying on airplanes, and using any kind of electronic equipment.

This is no exaggeration - simply an extension of your own logic.

As an expert in radiation protection, I would welcome the opportunity to provide you and your technical advisory team with any additional information and clarification you require.

I would also welcome an opportunity to discuss all radiation related issues in an open forum, without any pre-conditions. I am not an employee of Lynas Corporation and do not need to seek any approval to participate in such a discussion.

I am absolutely confident that a frank and open discussion about radiation-related issues surrounding not only the Lynas plant in Kuantan, but also in general terms, will be beneficial for everyone.

If you have any interest, please let me know and I will try to include a stopover in Kuala Lumpur into my schedule in the next few months.

I know many will be pissed with the news that PM Najib will be meeting Namewee, I can be quite certain that judging by the tweets in twitterjaya many Malaysian especially Malays are not happy with the PM for even agreeing to meet the racist who now calls himself a film director or whatever. A few bloggers have made their feelings quite plain read here, here.

I think feelings are running high at the moment especially with the Mat Sabu very ill advised comments making a hero of the Communist terrorist Mat Indera, and PM Najib meeting Namewee the unrepentant racist will not solve anything nor would it bring the Chinese votes into the BN fold in droves.

It could have the opposite effect of undermining Malay votes for UMNO, yes the very Malays who were the subject of much racist bashing in the Namewee videos. UMNO/BN must never make the mistake that the Malay votes are in the bag for them for the next General Elections now that Dr Mahathir are behind Najib unlike during Sleepy Pak Lah's PMship. UMNO should not misread the Malays like the British did in 1946 when they tried to totally and officially colonise the then Tanah Melayu thru the Malayan Union.

Malays can be very forgiving and polite people but they will find it difficult to forget people who have hurt their feelings and made fools by them. Namewee is a case in point.